Chapter 9: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Glass exploded across the study floor.
My mother screamed.
My father shoved us backward just as something struck the wall above his shoulder.
For one terrifying second, I thought it was a bullet.
Then I saw the small black object bounce onto the carpet.
A stone.
My father grabbed the curtain and pulled it closed.
“Get down!””
Vanessa dropped to her knees.
I crouched beside my mother, my heart hammering so violently it felt like it might break through my ribs.
“Daniel,” I whispered into the phone, “the window—”
“I heard it,” he said.
“Are you hurt?””
“No.””
“Stay away from every window.””
My father crawled toward the study door.
“Everyone stay here.””
He was halfway to the hallway when the lights flickered again.
The entire house went dark.
Vanessa grabbed my arm.
“Emily.””
I pulled away.
“Don't.””
She looked startled.
“I was trying to help.””
“You're the reason I'm in this.””
Her face crumpled.
“I know.””
A sound came from downstairs.
The front door opening.
My father froze.
Someone had gotten inside.
Daniel's voice became urgent.
“Emily, listen to me.””
“What?””
“I traced the trust filing.””
“Who filed it?””
“Michael Carter.””
“But he's supposed to be dead.””
“I know.””
“Then how?””
“I don't know yet.””
Footsteps moved across the foyer.
Slow.
Unhurried.
Someone was inside our house.
My father motioned for us to stay back.
Then a man's voice echoed from downstairs.
“You should have opened the door when I asked.””
Vanessa stopped breathing.
She whispered, “That's him.””
I looked at her.
“Who?””
She didn't answer.
The voice came again.
“Vanessa.””
My sister covered her mouth.
“Michael.””
I stared at the staircase.
The man who was supposed to be dead was standing downstairs.
Daniel said, “Emily, get away from the stairs.””
“What does he look like?””
“I can't see him.””
My father whispered, “Neither can I.””
Then a figure appeared beneath the archway.
Tall.
Gray hair.
Dark coat.
A face older than the one in the photograph, but unmistakably familiar.
My father's face went white.
“Michael.””
The man smiled.
“Hello, brother.””
My mother gripped my hand.
I could barely hear myself breathe.
Michael looked around the room.
His gaze landed on Vanessa.
“You've made a mess.””
Vanessa stood slowly.
“I didn't know.””
“You knew enough.””
“I thought you were helping me.””
Michael laughed.
“Helping you?””
His eyes moved toward me.
“You were always easier to manipulate than your sister.””
My stomach turned.
“You know me?””
“I've known of you for years.””
My father stepped forward.
“You've been alive this whole time.””
Michael looked at him.
“I preferred being dead.””
“Why?””
“Because the moment people think you're dead, they stop looking for you.””
My father clenched his fists.
“You let Mother believe you were gone.””
“I let her believe what she needed to believe.””
“She spent years blaming herself.””
Michael's smile disappeared.
“She had reason to.””
My father stared at him.
“What did you do?””
Michael ignored the question.
He looked at Vanessa.
“Did you get Emily to sign?””
“No.””
“Why not?””
She shook her head.
“Things changed.””
“They changed because you became careless.””
Vanessa's voice broke.
“You told me she wouldn't get hurt.””
Michael shrugged.
“I told you she would survive.””
I felt sick.
“You planned this.””
He looked at me.
“Of course.””
“Why?””
“Because your grandmother made one foolish decision.””
“What decision?””
“She chose you.””
Silence.
Michael walked farther into the room.
“You were the favored grandchild from the moment you were born.””
I stared at him.
“I barely remember you.””
“You weren't supposed to.””
He looked at my father.
“And after your grandmother changed the trust, your father protected you.””
My father said nothing.
Michael continued.
“He thought he could hide the amendment forever.””
“You're insane,” my mother said.
Michael turned toward her.
“No. I'm patient.””
He pulled a document from inside his coat.
The paper looked official.
He held it up.
“This is the claim.””
My father stared.
“That signature isn't real.””
Michael smiled.
“You've always been very confident.””
“I know your signature.””
“No, you know the signature I used twenty years ago.””
My father's expression changed.
Michael stepped closer.
“I changed it.””
He held out the paper.
“I also changed my identity.””
My mother whispered, “How?””
Michael ignored her.
He looked at me instead.
“Your sister was supposed to solve the final problem.””
I said nothing.
“She was supposed to convince you to sign a transfer authorization.””
Vanessa lowered her head.
“She couldn't.””
Michael's eyes hardened.
“So you improvised.””
Vanessa started crying.
“I was scared.””
“You should have been.””
He turned toward me.
“You're the reason my inheritance was taken from me.””
“I didn't even know about it.””
“That is exactly why your grandmother chose you.””
“Chosen me for what?””
Michael placed the document on the table.
“To keep the property away from everyone who wanted it.””
My father stepped forward.
“You forged the filing.””
Michael smiled.
“I didn't need to.””
Daniel suddenly spoke through the phone.
“Emily, I know what happened.””
Michael's head turned toward the sound.
“Daniel.””
My stomach dropped.
Michael knew his name.
“You should hang up,” Michael said.
I held the phone tighter.
Daniel answered through the speaker.
“Go ahead.””
Michael smiled.
“I already know where you live.””
The line went silent.
My father stepped toward Michael.
“Leave.””
Michael looked at him.
“You're still trying to protect them.””
“Yes.””
“After what you did?””
My father's expression hardened.
“What are you talking about?””
Michael leaned closer.
“You didn't merely hide the trust.””
He smiled.
“You lied about the night Mother died.””
My mother's face drained of color.
“What lie?””
My father closed his eyes.
Michael looked at me.
“Ask your father who was really in that house when she died.””
I stared at my father.
“Dad?””
He said nothing.
Michael's voice softened.
“Ask him who called Claire.””
My father finally spoke.
“I did.””
My mother's head snapped toward him.
“You called Claire?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“To get help.””
Michael laughed.
“You called her because you were afraid.””
My father nodded.
“I was.””
“Afraid of what?””
My father looked directly at me.
“Your grandmother had already changed the trust.””
I swallowed.
“When?””
“Two days before she died.””
Michael's face darkened.
“And she told your father why.””
“Why?””
“Because she had discovered that I was alive.””
I froze.
My father continued.
“She knew Michael had been using Claire to pressure her.””
“She knew what he wanted.””
“What?””
“Control of the trust.””
Michael stepped forward.
“And she refused.””
My father nodded.
“That's why Michael threatened her.””
My skin prickled.
“Threatened her how?””
Michael's expression hardened.
“Be careful.””
My father ignored him.
“He told her he'd expose family secrets.””
“What secrets?””
My father's eyes lowered.
“Mine.””
I stared.
“What did you do?””
He didn't answer.
Michael did.
“He stole from the trust.””
My mother turned toward my father.
“What?””
“I borrowed money.””
“You stole it?””
“I intended to repay it.””
“How much?””
My father swallowed.
“Enough to make Michael think he could control me.””
I felt my knees weaken.
“Did Grandma know?””
“Yes.””
“And that's why she changed the trust?””
“Yes.””
Michael smiled.
“And then your father made another mistake.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
“He signed a confession.””
My father stiffened.
Michael produced another paper.
“This one.””
My father stared at it.
“No.””
I took a step forward.
Michael held it just beyond my reach.
“What does it say?””
“That your father misappropriated trust funds.””
My mother looked stunned.
“But if that's true…”
“He could have been removed as trustee,” Michael said.
My father nodded.
“I was going to tell your grandmother.””
“You never did,” Michael replied.
“No.””
“Because she died.””
My father's eyes filled.
“I was trying to save the family.””
Michael laughed.
“You were trying to save yourself.””
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then I looked at Vanessa.
“Did you know?””
She shook her head violently.
“No.””
“Did you know Dad had taken money?””
“No.””
“Did Claire tell you?””
“She told me there was a reason the trust was complicated.””
I looked at Michael.
“Then what do you actually want?””
His eyes settled on mine.
“The property.””
“You already have the claim.””
“I need your signature.””
“I won't sign.””
“You will.””
“No.””
Michael's expression remained calm.
“Because tomorrow morning, the court will receive evidence that your father stole from the trust.””
My father went pale.
“And unless you sign, the property will be frozen.””
“Let it be frozen.””
Michael smiled.
“You don't understand.””
He pointed toward my shoulder.
“You're the beneficiary who must authorize the emergency transfer.””
I said nothing.
He continued.
“Unless you're declared incapacitated.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She started crying.
Michael's voice became almost gentle.
“That's what the pool was for.””
My stomach turned.
“You wanted me hurt badly enough to make the paperwork believable.””
He nodded.
“Exactly.””
Vanessa whispered, “I didn't know he'd come this far.””
Michael ignored her.
He looked at me.
“But the problem is, you're still standing.””
Then Daniel spoke.
“Emily.””
His voice had changed.
He sounded almost relieved.
“I found the original death certificate.””
Michael's expression shifted.
Daniel continued.
“Michael Carter is not listed as deceased.””
Silence.
I stared at Michael.
“What?””
Daniel's voice came through the speaker.
“Because the man who died twenty years ago wasn't Michael.””
Michael stopped smiling.
My father whispered:
“No.””
Daniel continued.
“I traced the identity number from the trust filing.””
He paused.
“The person claiming to be Michael Carter isn't Michael Carter.””
Michael's face hardened.
Daniel said:
“Emily, your uncle died years ago.””
I looked at the man standing in front of us.
“Then who are you?””
For the first time that night, the stranger looked genuinely frightened.
He reached into his coat.
My father stepped toward him.
“Don't.””
The man pulled out a photograph.
He held it up.
It showed my grandmother standing beside a younger man.
Not Michael.
Someone else.
Someone I had never seen.
And written across the bottom in my grandmother's handwriting were six words:
*THIS IS THE MAN YOU SHOULD FEAR.*
The front door slammed shut behind us.
May you like
And the mysterious man whispered:
“You finally found out who I am.””
